Vineland man promotes service, brotherhood as Boy Scout chaplain

[fgoodwin 23]

Vineland man promotes service, brotherhood as Boy Scout chaplain

 

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cumberland/story/7534284p-7436918c.html

http://tinyurl.com/2fml78

 

By JOYCE VANAMAN

Published: Friday, February 8, 2008

For The Press

 

The Rev. Cornell Brunson, of Vineland, has a dream that one day there will be more males in Boy Scouts than in prisons.

 

"I can relate to them because I was addicted to drugs and alcohol and had some arrests as a teenager and adult before going into a residential drug program," Brunson said.

 

Proudly wearing his Boy Scout chaplain's uniform, an orange cross and a special Kente cloth neckerchief given to recognize those who have made significant contributions to scouting in their communities, Brunson, 61, tells of his association with the Southern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America.

 

Brunson also serves as chairman of the Scoutreach program.

 

"Our objective is to reach Hispanics, African Americans, other minorities, special needs and at-risk youth," said Brunson. "There is a lack of male volunteers to serve as role models. One of our goals is to get more area churches involved in scouting.

 

"The person in my life who had the greatest impact was my grandmother who taught me responsibility, duty and to always put God first," Brunson said.

 

[excerpted]